The food in Brazil is so diverse and rich with flavor and taste! From the fresh seafood in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador to the fine dining experiences and quick snacks throughout Sao Paulo, I've had the pleasure to try and enjoy lots of new items I wish were available in the United States!
My favorite go to snack is a pastel: fried, thick sheets of dough holding meats and cheeses inside. You can get a variety of fillings, like olives, tomatoes, chicken, chedder, and even sweet treats like chocolate and stawberries. Pastels are considered salgodos, which is a word used for savory, quick bites. Pao de queijo is another popular salgodo, which is basically a cheese bread ball. Coxinhas are filled with cream cheese and usually shredded chicken.
I was surprised at the number of U.S. restaurants available in Brazil, like KFC, Popeyes, and Burger King. I don't eat too much from the chain restaurants, but even looking at the menus, you can see the Brazilian flair for many dishes. For example, biscuits aren't a thing here, but people may have pao de queijo instead. Fries are served with almost every meal no matter what kind of restaurant you visit, and if you order any kind of juice, it will be freshly squeezed!
The best dish is feijoada, which is pretty much the national dish for Brazil.
